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F Fausto Palazzo

Publications and source records attributed to F Fausto Palazzo.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Thyroid surgery: postoperative hematoma--prevention and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Postoperative haematoma formation is a fortunately rare but potentially life-threatening complication of thyroid surgery. This paper aims to identify potential aetiological factors, describe surgical techniques and newer haemostatic agents that may be used to minimise the risk of haematoma formation and propose surgical strategies to deal with haematoma formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extensive literature search as well as own considerable experience in a tertiary referral centre endocrine surgical unit was drawn upon to review this topic. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative haematoma may have a multifactorial aetiology. Numerous manoeuvres and surgical haemostatic agents may be employed to minimise the risk of haematoma formation but are no substitute for meticulous haemostasis. In the event of haematoma formation, early surgical re-intervention is strongly advocated with due care given to at risk structures.

Blood Loss, Surgical↗
PubMed2006

Long-term outcome following laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large solid adrenal cortex tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the procedure of choice for small benign adrenal tumors. In the absence of local invasion or metastases, the preoperative diagnosis of an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is difficult, often leaving size as the principal predictor of malignancy. Large tumors are resectable laparoscopically, but the long-term outcome and therefore appropriateness of LA for cortical tumors > 6 cm is not known. METHODS: We reviewed the LA experience in our institution since its introduction in June 1994. Patients who underwent LA for solid cortical tumors > or = 60 mm in diameter without preoperative or intraoperative evidence of malignancy were reviewed. Follow-up data, including clinical examination, biochemical analysis, and repeat scans, were reviewed for evidence of local or systemic recurrent disease. RESULTS: Between 1994 and 2004 a total of 462 adrenalectomies were performed, 391 of which were done laparoscopically. Among them, 19 were solid cortical tumors > or = 60 mm in diameter with no overt malignant preoperative or intraoperative characteristics: 9 nonsecreting tumors, 8 Cushing's syndrome tumors (including 2 virilizing variants), 1 virilizing tumor, and 1 aldosteronoma. The mean age of the patients was 49.9 years (range 22-77 years), and the mean tumor size was 69.0 mm (range 60-80 mm). Histology confirmed a cortical adenoma in eight patients, malignant tumors in three, and indeterminate tumors in eight. The mean follow-up was 34 months (range 4-108 months). Two patients died of systemic recurrent disease (liver metastases) at 10 and 19 months, respectively, following surgery; two other patients died 12 and 21 months, respectively following surgery owing to unrelated cardiovascular and cerebrovascular pathology. One patient underwent surgery for local recurrence 54 months after primary surgery; the remaining 14 patients are well with no clinical or radiologic evidence of recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for large solid cortical tumors without pre- or intraoperative evidence of malignancy is not contraindicated, and it is unlikely to have a deleterious effect on long-term outcome. Each case should be considered individually. We provide an algorithm for the approach to adrenocortical tumors > or = 6 cm.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

A single-institution 25-year review of true parathyroid cysts.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid cysts (PCs) are rare, and their origin is a subject of debate. They have been described as either functional, causing hyperparathyroidism, or non-functional in eucalcaemic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have performed a 25-year departmental review of PCs. Features studied included the clinical presentation and intra-operative findings, and a histological review was performed. Cases of cystic degeneration of parathyroid adenomas and pseudocystic change were excluded. RESULTS: Over 25 years, 22,009 thyroidectomies and 2,505 parathyroidectomies were performed in our department. Amongst these, 38 non-functional PCs were documented in 37 patients. The mode of presentation included incidental findings on routine chest x-ray, compressive symptoms or an asymptomatic palpable neck mass. Aspiration was the initial treatment in 14 patients and was curative in 10 of these. Four out of 14 patients underwent surgical procedures for recurrence of the cyst that occurred 6 to 48 months after aspiration. In 27 patients, surgery was performed and all identified PCs were localized in the inferior parathyroid glands. Histologically, the cyst wall consisted in associations of lymphoid, muscular, thymic, salivary, adipose and mesenchymal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: PCs are rare but should be included within the differential diagnosis of a neck lump. True PCs are non-functional. Pathological and immunohistochemical findings are suggestive of a branchial origin. Fine-needle aspiration may be curative and is diagnostic due to the characteristic appearance of the fluid and high PTH levels on assay.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Safety and feasibility of thyroid lobectomy via a lateral 2.5-cm incision with a cohort comparison of the first 50 cases: evolution of a surgical approach.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over 500 minimal-access parathyroidectomies (MIPs) have been performed in our unit, and, from these, a technique for thyroid resection has evolved. We present a report on the evolution of minimal-access thyroid surgery (MATS) and compare the results with those from a cohort of patients operated on prior to the use of MATS. METHODS: We reviewed the evolution towards the MATS technique. The results of the MATS procedures were compared with those from an equal number of consecutive patients undergoing conventional lobectomy prior to the use of MATS. RESULTS: Fifty patients (mean age 45.6 years) underwent MATS between March 2002 and May 2004. The mean nodule diameter was 18.5 mm. In the MATS group there was one recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury, two temporary RLN neuropraxias, which recovered, and one haematoma. The control group (mean age 47.9 years) had a mean nodule size of 22 mm. In the controls there was one temporary RLN neuropraxia, which recovered, and two haematomas-P>0.05 (Fisher's exact test) for all the complications. CONCLUSIONS: MATS has evolved from an experimental approach into a safe and feasible surgical procedure based on the same operative approach as used for MIP. It provides an alternative to open thyroid surgery in appropriately selected cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Parathyroid autotransplantation during total thyroidectomy--does the number of glands transplanted affect outcome?

Parathyroid autotransplantation is a technique for ensuring the continued function of parathyroid tissue at the time of total thyroidectomy (TT). The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the number of parathyroids transplanted affects the incidence of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism. A retrospective cohort study included all patients undergoing a TT in a single unit between July 1998 and June 2003. The number of parathyroids transplanted, the final pathology, and the incidence of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism were documented. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. A total of 1196 patients underwent a TT during the 5 years studied. Of these, 306 (25.6%) had no parathyroids transplanted, 650 (54.3%), 206 (17.2%), 34 (2.8%) had 1,2, or 3 glands autotransplanted, respectively. The incidence of temporary hypoparathyroidism was 9.8% for no gland transplants, 11.9%, 15.1%, and 31.4% for 1,2,and 3 gland transplants, respectively (p < 0.05). The incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism was 0.98%, 0.77%, 0.97%, and 0%, respectively (p = NS). The incidence of temporary hypoparathyroidism was higher when surgery was performed for Graves' disease. Temporary hypocalcemia is closely related to the number of autotransplanted parathyroids during TT. The long-term outcome is not affected by the number of parathyroids autotransplanted. A "ready selective" approach to parathyroid autotransplantation is an effective strategy for minimizing the rate of permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

The role of a more extensive surgical approach in the initial multimodality management of papillary thyroid cancer in children.

PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in children is rare. The optimal initial surgical treatment remains controversial, given the generally favorable overall prognosis but high rate of cervical metastasis and local recurrence. Our objective was to examine the surgical outcomes of a policy of total thyroidectomy and routine selective lymph node dissection (SLND) as the initial surgical approach to children with PTC. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comprising 14 children (age, < or =17 years) with PTC referred for thyroid surgery during the past 15 years. Clinical presentation, the surgical procedure, final pathology, lymph node involvement, complications, and recurrence rates are reported. RESULTS: There were 9 females and 5 males, with an average age of 12.5 years. Seven patients (50%) had clinically apparent cervical lymphadenopathy at the time of surgical referral. All subjects underwent total thyroidectomy, and 12 (86%) had SLND. Of the 12 who underwent SLND, 10 (83%) had nodal metastases. Temporary hypocalcemia was noted in 3 of the patients (21%), and 1 patient has required ongoing intermittent calcium supplementation. All patients are alive and well at follow-up with no clinical, biochemical, or radiological evidence of local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy with initial SLND is an appropriate surgical approach in children with PTC. It can be done without a significantly increased risk for permanent complications and may reduce the requirement for subsequent surgical intervention for local recurrence in this young population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Minimal-access/minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Minimal-access or minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is replacing a bilateral neck exploration as the surgical approach of choice in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). When a parathyroid adenoma is localized preoperatively, ideally with sestamibi combined with ultrasonography, results equivalent to a bilateral neck exploration can be achieved through an incision less than 2.5 cm. Minimal-access techniques offer the advantage of cure under local anesthesia with a smaller incision and no overnight stay. Intraoperative measurement of parathyroid hormone (PTH) may be a valuable adjunct to confirmation of parathyroid adenoma removal, but currently appears to add little when preoperative localization is optimized. Controlled studies and long-term follow-up will be required to establish the true value of parathyroid minimal-access surgery.

Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical↗